In 343 BCE, when Alexander was just 13, his father hired Aristotle, already one of the greatest thinkers of the ancient world, to be his personal tutor. For several years, Aristotle taught him philosophy, science, medicine, and ethics in a private retreat north of Mount Olympus. The two often walked and debated for hours, blending ideas of reason with the realities of rule.

Aristotle’s lessons gave Alexander more than knowledge. They gave him a belief in leadership through intellect and culture, not just brute force. Some say the seeds of his later empire, founded on cities, libraries, and cultural fusion, were first planted in those early lessons. The conqueror and the philosopher may have walked very different paths, but their connection helped shape the ancient world.